Notts County want Craig Beattie to replace Hughes

The Post reported yesterday that the Magpies had lined-up an ex-Premier League striker, after boss Keith Curle made the big decision to let Hughes leave Meadow Lane on Monday.

And Beattie, who has played in the top-flight for West Brom, is the man he believes can spearhead the club's challenge for promotion in League One in the second half of the season.

Curle tried to sign the Scotland international back in the summer, but he turned down a move to Notts to join SPL side St Johnstone on a one-year deal.

But it has not worked out for the 28-year-old at McDiarmid Park – and he has made played just four games as a sub this season.

Beattie trained with the Notts County squad yesterday and could be announced ahead of the game this weekend at Portsmouth.

Hughes completed his switch to Vale yesterday, after completing a medical at the League Two club, and his exit has left Notts with just two strikers – leading-scorer Yoann Arquin and Enoch Showunmi – so they must act quickly to bolster their frontline.

Glasgow-born Beattie began his career at Celtic before moving south of the border to join West Brom for £1.25m in 2007.

He has also played for Preston, Crystal Palace, Sheffield United, Swansea, Watford and Hearts and has netted 32 goals in 167 league games in his career.

At 6ft-tall, Beattie is a burly striker who would add a physical presence to Notts' attack.

OH DEAR, OH DEAR, OH DEAR. Old cluless curle is at it again. Does he really think that this player will fire the Magpies into the Championship, thus saving his job? Time to live in the real world. From all the comments on this site the Fans (the people who pay their hard eaned cash each WEEK mr trew) want Jonny Forte!! So go out and get him, he is probably the only guy good enough to fill Hughesy's boots.

Well said Clonbron!
Any business that wants to progress provides a service/product that people want rather than go down the blackmaiil route of "attend or else"
Jack Dunnett tried that approach 40 years ago and it failed miserably. It just p*sses off those who do attend and is water off a ducks back to those who dont.

Spot on cmanddes, Bridgfordboy et.al. (as always).
So we release our only proven goalscorer to be replaced by someone who cannot even get a game in a mickeymouse league. And RT is surprised that fans are voting with their feet. (And don't start me off about trying to get served in the MLSB after 2pm!)
So,try my simple striker equation:
Enoch v LH = LH; Iwelumo v LH = LH; Beattie v LH = LH; J Forte v LH = JF
Totally agree about Hollis/KP/Waite; why give them contracts if you're not going to play them- a wasted year in their development. Surely, they are no worse than some of the 'released' players signed by KC?

Hello again fellow sufferers. Where've you been Craigwigan - started to miss your input....
If money is so tight, this guy must be cheap. A short term deal to the end of the season is probably all the club can afford as there have been too many personnel duplications since the summer.
When Oh When will someone at the club realise that we have to develop our own players and then sell them on which is why so many of us are always banging on about playing KP, Hollis, and someone I'd forgotten - Tyrrell Waite.
Keith Hill at Rochdale perfected this, surely its not beyond us with not just the Burton facilities but a big coaching support team. Alan Dickov must be green with envy........
Whatever, as most of Pompey players are on the dole next week lets hope we don't suffer them having a grand finale.

Curlee Top's is playing Fantasy Football again if he thinks Beattie will score the goals to take us to the Championship.
We would have more chance if he brought Les "The Bomber" Bradd out of retirement.
No wonder Ray is complaining about the falling gates at The Lane, he needs to look at the root cause & I can give him a clue, its not the Supporters fault that they are fed up of watching Curles poor home tactics, one up front at home, oh dear get real Curle.
Surely Ray we don't have to train at St. Georges to perfect that formation think of the money you can save, Victoria Embankment was good enough for Sir Jimmy & look hat he achieved.
Sort it out Ray, you know it makes sense in the long run.

Clonbron; I agree, the average ticket price is high and to be honest does not represent value for money. It's just too expensive.
I would also prefer Forte, I would take him over any of these other possible forwards being touted. I would take Beattie if we got rid of Enoch.

32 goals in 167 league games? That's a goal roughly every five games - and KC "believes he is the man to spearhead the club's challenge for promotion"?
Come on, KC, we already have one Showunmi on the books, we don't need another.
Get Forte in now!